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Former
Kodiak resident and Coast Guard rescue swimmer Dave Skimin is being remembered
as a caring, funny, and loving man. Skimin died last Thursday in a helicopter
crash while on a training flight near Honolulu, where he and his wife Sally
moved three years ago. KMXT's Casey Kelly has more.

In this YouTube video from five years ago, Dave Skimin talks about one of his favorite hobbies: Surfing and making surfboards.

(Skimin
YouTube 1:14s“…[nat
sound fades down]”)

Despite
the cold water, or maybe because of it, Skimin found Kodiak to be the perfect
place to surf.

(Skimin
YouTube 2:29s“…and
there’s never crowds.”)

O’Brien
Hollow worked with Skimin as a rescue swimmer at Air Station Kodiak before they
were both transferred elsewhere: Skimin to Hawaii and Hollow to Astoria,
Oregon. When they weren’t working they’d also surf together whenever they both
had a day off. Hollow remembers that before he left Kodiak, Skimin dropped off a
few gifts at his house.

(Hollow
1:19s“…so
I’m still surfing those.”)

Hollow
says the main thing he’ll miss about Skimin is his sense of humor.

(Hollow
2:12s“…issued
coke bottle glasses.”)

Skimin was a regular on-air volunteer for KMXT,
where his wife Sally served on the board of directors. He often filled in for
Jim Peterson on the Acoustic Music Hour. They were neighbors in Bells Flats,
and Peterson says the whole neighborhood is shocked by the news.

(Peterson 1:19s“…why
do the good people go?”)

Peterson says Skimin talked about moving back to
Kodiak one day and playing stand-up bass with his band, White Twang. He even
bought his own bass recently, just one of many toys that Peterson says the
fun-loving Skimin had.

(Peterson
1:23s“…to
enjoy the outdoors.”)

Skimin was
38-years old. He’s survived by his wife, Sally, and a daughter from a previous
relationship. The cause of the helicopter crash that killed him is still under
investigation.